The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for reopening of her service connection claims for joint pain and depressive disorder, but has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD due to exposure to burn pits during active duty in Southwest Asia.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the April 2015 VA examination is new and material as it provides additional details about the Veteran's symptoms and their onset following her deployment, which could contribute to a more complete picture of the origin of her joint pain and depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Joint Pain, Depressive Disorder, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Fatigue Disability, Headache Disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23024926
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23024926.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the claim was granted and effective from February 22, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective from August 3, 2021. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected Depressive Disorder is causing him to require regular assistance in keeping himself clean and presentable, which may qualify him for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance. The case is being remanded to schedule a VA examination to assess this issue.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
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